You seem rather ignorant of the width of belief in the Christian belief system.

Did you know, for example, that both the Northern and Southern California conventions of the United Methodist Church officially opposed Proposition 8? Or that the United Church of Christ viewed fighting Proposition 8 as part of their quest for Christian social justice?

Or that an amicus brief requesting that the courts overturn Proposition 8 has been filed by hundreds of California ministers from Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, American Catholic, Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, and Methodist churches. You may not like these churches or these men of God, but you cannot say that they are not Christian.

So I don’t accept “it’s part of the Christian belief system” as justification for his maligning and lying about his neighbor.

It would be unfair to classify Timothy McVeigh’s position as outrageous and uncivil either then, if that’s the standard that you want to purue. McVeigh, after all, firmly grounded his beliefs in his interpretation not only of the Bible, but of the constitution.

If all that’s required is consistency with one’s belief system, then all manner of uncivil activity — and criminal activity — would get a pass.

And evoking NAMBLA — nice tough. Nobody has even thought to mention that group in this context. The very fact that you seem to think that NAMBLA is a part of a community which has repeatedly denounced and reputiated it says an awful lot about your own defective belief system.

]]>By: Joshua Masthttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/18/7512/comment-page-1#comment-32046
Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:46:04 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=7512#comment-32046It seems unfair to classify Rick Warren’s support of proposition 8 as uncivil and outrageous. He is an evangelical Christian Pastor. The Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is not an acceptable expression of sexuality (Lev. 18, Rom 1:24-28, 1 Cor. 6:9-10, 1 Tim 1:8-11, etc.), and it is this same source (not Warren) which places homosexuality on par with incest (Lev. 18), but not polygamy, and the “child rape” comment is clearly a reference to NAMBLA – not all homosexuals. Thus, Warren is not being “uncivil” he is merely being consistent with what he believes.
You can argue the validity of God or the Bible, but don’t inacurately classify his behaviour as outrageous when he is merely being consistent with the Christian belief system.
]]>By: Lynn Davidhttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/18/7512/comment-page-1#comment-28465
Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:54:45 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=7512#comment-28465An interesting article about when representatives of Soulforce attempted to talk with Rick Warren:

What does the Bible say about homosexuality? The Bible very clearly says that homosexuality is a sin.

Because membership in a church is an outgrowth of accepting the Lordship and leadership of Jesus in one’s life, someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at a member at Saddleback Church. That does not mean they cannot attend church – we hope they do! God’s Word has the power to change our lives.

]]>By: Dennis Veitehttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/18/7512/comment-page-1#comment-28422
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:15:09 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=7512#comment-28422@Bob Leahy: Everytime a new publisher prints another book. Better get caught up cause there’s a lot of new out there.
]]>By: Bob Leahyhttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/18/7512/comment-page-1#comment-28418
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:08:46 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=7512#comment-28418Perhaps Warren should consider converting to a more loving religion – like Christianity. The last time I read the New Testament, Christ urged his followers to love their enemies.

Christ never said a word against gays.

I haven’t read the New Testament since 1973. Has there been a revision since then?

]]>By: Charles Laniganhttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/18/7512/comment-page-1#comment-28358
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:12:25 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=7512#comment-28358Rest Stops!
]]>By: Alexhttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/18/7512/comment-page-1#comment-28345
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:15:19 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=7512#comment-28345Ok, does Warren honestly expect us to believe that he has “hundreds” of gay friends? I have maybe a dozen gay friends at the most, and I’m an openly gay man who lives in a liberal city, not a conservative celebrity-pastor with a wife and kids! How does he find the time to meet all these gay people?! :-P
]]>By: elaygeehttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/12/18/7512/comment-page-1#comment-28341
Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:53:31 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=7512#comment-28341He has no Gay friends. He has Gay aquaintances who won’t tell him how bigoted he is.
]]>